Hand Crossbows

The hand crossbow is a class-specific item that can only be used by the Demon Hunter.

Unlike other crossbows, the hand crossbow is a one-handed item. This means Hand Crossbows may be wielded in combination with a shield or quiver if the player so chooses, but it is likely the best DPS output will come from dual wielding these items. Hand crossbows have the fastest firing rate of any ranged weapon in the game, but they do less damage than other bows or crossbows to compensate.

Hand Crossbows

Initiate's Hand Crossbow Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 1) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 3.0–4.2 Damage Per Second (2–3) to (3–4) Damage 1.20 Attacks Per Second Durability: 40

Simple Hand Crossbow Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 1) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 4.5 Damage Per Second (1) to (4) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Light Hand Crossbow Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 1) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 5.4–9.0 Damage Per Second (1–2) to (5–8) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Stake Thrower Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 1) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 9.0–13.5 Damage Per Second (2–3) to (8–12) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Hand Crossbow Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 5) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 11.7–17.1 Damage Per Second (2–3) to (11–16) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Slinglock Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 9) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 14.4–21.6 Damage Per Second (2–4) to (14–20) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Quillshot Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 13) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 18.9–26.1 Damage Per Second (3–5) to (18–24) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Nail Spitter Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 17) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 19.8–28.8 Damage Per Second (2–5) to (20–27) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Heavy Stake Thrower Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 21) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 23.4–34.2 Damage Per Second (2–6) to (24–32) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Sling Pistol Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 27) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 25.2–38.7 Damage Per Second (2–7) to (26–36) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Crosslock Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 30) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 31.5–45.0 Damage Per Second (3–8) to (32–42) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Siege Lock Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 32) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 36.0–49.5 Damage Per Second (4–9) to (36–46) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Arcus Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 36) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 45.0–58.5 Damage Per Second (5–10) to (45–55) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Cranequin Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 38) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 48.6–64.8 Damage Per Second (5–11) to (49–61) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Spine Thrower Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 41) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 59.4–75.6 Damage Per Second (7–13) to (59–71) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Heavy Arcus Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 43) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 66.6–82.8 Damage Per Second (8–14) to (66–78) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Bolt Rack Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 45) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 79.2–95.4 Damage Per Second (10–16) to (78–90) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Runic Sling Pistol Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 50) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 92.7–111.6 Damage Per Second (12–19) to (91–105) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Splinter Shot Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 52) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 103.5–122.4 Damage Per Second (14–21) to (101–115) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Windlash Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 54) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 116.1–135.0 Damage Per Second (16–23) to (113–127) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Blade Spitter Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 56) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 126.9–148.5 Damage Per Second (17–25) to (124–140) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Heavy Cranequin Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 58) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 143.1–164.7 Damage Per Second (20–28) to (139–155) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Runic Arcus Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 60) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 150.3–171.9 Damage Per Second (21–29) to (146–162) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Impellor Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 60) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 160.2–181.8 Damage Per Second (23–31) to (155–171) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Exorcist Common Hand Crossbow 1-Handed (Level 60) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 168.3–189.9 Damage Per Second (24–32) to (163–179) Damage 1.80 Attacks Per Second Durability: 50-60

Dual Wield Only?

Just pretend he's a Demon Hunter.

At Blizzcon 2010, hand xbows could only be dual wielded. The bows came in a pair, and looked something like you see in the paperdoll mock-up to the right. A Demon Hunter could only equip both at once, or neither; it was not possible to equip just one hand xbow with a one-handed a weapon or a shield.

This was thought to be a balance issue; the hand xbow was the fastest firing ranged weapon in the game, but as a trade off they had to be used two at a time, trading defense for offense. This may not be the case in the final game though, as Bashiok explained while answering some forum questions in November 2010. [1]

[Can the Demon Hunter use] two separate and unique one hand crossbows w/ different stats on them?

Bashiok: Yes, that is in. A lot of work is being done right now on demon hunter weapons so some things are still up in the air, but dual-wielding one handed crossbows in each hand, each with their own unique enchants and gems, etc. is now in the game.

So, one could now wield a one-handed crossbow in one hand, and a shield in the other?

Bashiok: Potentially, but some things are still up in the air

I do wonder what other classes will be able to use 1 handed crossbows.

Bashiok: No other class is planned to use one-handed crossbows. It’s a demon hunter thing. There are two handed crossbows that the witch doctor and wizard can use.

It's unclear how the developers would balance this out; if a hand crossbow is the fastest firing weapon, AND it can be used with a shield, or two of them can be used at once, that seems like an enormous bonus, since that doubles the item modifiers, gem bonuses, etc. The damage of the hand crossbow would have to be much lower, the item bonuses limited, the number of sockets capped, etc.

Demon Hunter Cinematic

The Demon Hunter makes extensive use of dual hand crossbows in her introductory cinematic, devastating a horde of demons with the weapons.

Demon Hunter using both xbows at once with multishot, in her cinematic.